Politics
Anxiety as Tribunal delivers judgment on Cross River guber election today
Anxiety as Tribunal delivers judgment on Cross River guber election today
On Tuesday, the Cross River Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will rule on the petition filed by Prof. Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Sen. Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is according to a statement issued by the tribunal’s Secretary, Mr Akawu Bambu, on Sunday in Calabar. Suit No. EPT/CR/GOV/02/2023 was filed jointly by Onor and the PDP. Counsel to Onor and Otu,.J. Y. Musa, SAN, and Prof. Mike Ozekhone, SAN, both presented written addresses that were accepted by the three-member tribunal.
Musa stated in his final written address to the court that the evidence obtained during the respondents’ cross-examination strengthens their case and also confirms the dishonesty of the information offered by the second and third respondents (Governor Otu and Peter Odey).
Onor finished his case after calling a few witnesses, whilst Otu called ten. Following the approval of written addresses by both parties on Aug. 13, the tribunal chaired by Justice Oken Inneh reserved judgment.
Musa stated that the petitioners’ case is not one of forgery against any of the respondents (Otu and Odey), and thus all of the authorities they cited to the effect that they needed to call witnesses from institutions are non-sequitor; rather, the petitioners’ case is that the second and third respondents lied under oath. He insisted that the second and third respondents (Otu and Odey) bring evidence that they fabricated documents.
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They opened a Pandora’s box by claiming they did not lie under oath, allowing us to see the disparities.
“I, therefore, urge the tribunal to declare the votes of the second and third respondents wasted because they were not qualified to stand for the election and declare the petitioners winner of the elections,” he said.
Prof. Mike Ozekhone, SAN, lead counsel for the second and third respondents, urged the court to dismiss the petition “for being frivolous, unmeritorious, gold-digging, distracting, and constituting an abuse of the court process.”
He stated that the “withdrawal of grounds two and three by the petitioners sounded a death kernel to their own petition because it was an admission that the elections were validly held.”
K. O. Balogun, counsel for the first respondents (INEC), asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition and agreed with Ozekhome on the qualification of the second and third respondents
Ozekhome had asked the court to dismiss the petition because it was frivolous, unjustified, distracting, and an abuse of the legal system. He went on to say that the petitioners’ withdrawal of grounds two and three was a death knell for their own case because it was an admission that the elections were lawfully held.
“According to my own submission today, the truth is that, beginning on July 10, 2023, when they withdrew grounds two and three of the petition, which discussed discrepancies, non-accreditation, non-e-transmission through BVAS, through iRev, and all the other alleged malpractices.”
“That time when they withdrew those allegations which were funny and untrue allegations, their petition collapsed like a pack of cards,” he stated.
According to NAN, INEC declared Otu the winner of the race after he received 258,619 votes, defeating the PDP candidate who received 179,636 votes.
Anxiety as Tribunal delivers judgment on Cross River guber election today
Politics
Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara
Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.
According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.
Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.
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Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.
“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.
He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?
“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.
Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara
Politics
APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027
APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has dismissed claims by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will significantly reduce APC’s votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Abass, chairman of the state chapter of the party said Kwankwaso’s assertion is laughable and nothing but a mere daydream. Abass called on Kwankwaso to focus on reclaiming his membership in the NNPP rather than making unfounded claims.
The APC described Kwankwaso as a political refugee clinging to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a futile attempt to regain relevance. They warned Kwankwaso that the APC would not allow a repeat of the alleged vote manipulation and allocation that created the impression of NNPP’s influence in Kano State during the 2023 general election.
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“Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso, who has been booted out of the NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain,” the party chair said.
“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His overbloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP, and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”
Kwankwaso had on Wednesday received some political decampees at his residence. During the event, he claimed that the NNPP was now formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in the state.
“If the PDP could struggle to receive 15, 000 votes in the 2023 Presidential elections in Kano, APC would not only receive below expectations but would receive the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano,” he stated
“NNPP achieved tremendous success in the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027,” he added.
APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027
Politics
Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano
Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso said his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, struggle to secure less than 15,000 votes in Kano State.
The APC, has, meanwhile, asked Kwankwaso to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.
Kwankwaso while receiving delegates of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano, acknowledged the hard work of the party during the 2023 elections, which resulted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano.
He said: “Now, it’s turn to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027.”
He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.
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The leader of the delegates, Abdul Bichi, told journalists that the visit was to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso and to distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.
Abdul said they had parted ways with Bichi since his removal from office.
“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Bichi, but we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.
“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.
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